2017 Report on Russian Military Power and Objectives

                           by David Parmer / Tokyo

“The Russian military has built on the military doctrine, structure, and capabilities of the former Soviet Union, and although still dependent on many of the older Soviet platforms, the Russians have modernized their military strategy, doctrine, and tactics to include use of asymmetric weapons like cyber and indirect action such as was observed in Ukraine.”

 The 2017 unclassified report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (Russia Military Power–Building A Military to Support Great Power Aspirations) is the current version of a report titled Soviet Military Power mandated by then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in 1981.   

The “comeback” of a resurgent Russian military from a hollowed-out post Soviet Union military organization to its present level of robust capabilities is documented. It says Russia has created a smaller, more mobilie and more balanced mix of forces to both protect its perceived interests and to project power in its area of influence

Evidence of this can be found in Russia’s actions including:

• Seizing the Crimea Peninsula
• Destabilizing eastern Ukraine
• Intervening in Syria
• Shaping the information environment

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the US are seen as principle threats to Russian sovereignty and ambitions. Of particular interest regarding Russian activities are its numerous cyber threats to the US and the free world. A prime example of this is the Russian “Troll Army” that tries to shape the Internet environment to Russia’s favor.

 Russian military capabilities are discussed from a strategic point of view, then  a section is devoted to each of its assets: Army, Navy, Rocket Forces, Cyber activities, Special Forces, Intelligence and Arms Sales. 

In the post-post Cold War era, a resurgent Russia can only be ignored at a nation’s peril. Please let us know your thoughts on this matter.

(The report can be found in its entirety online by following the link below. Est. reading time: 50 minutes)

Report: Russia Military Power

Photo: Pantsir S1, Dmitry Terekhov via flickr